4 .

1 Balancing Equations
A balanced chemical equation r ef lects the law of conser vation of
mass. A balanced chemical equation has an equal number of
each k ind of atom on both sides of the r eaction (both sides of the
ar r ow ~)and ther ef or e an equal mass on both sides.
Balancing an equation means to add a coef f icients (number s)in
f r ont of each f or mula. These number s, or coef f icients, r epr esent
how many of each atom, molecules or f or mula units ar e pr esent in
the r eaction.
NOTE: Some sk eleton equations ar e alr eady balanced by
pur e coincidence.
i. e. C + 02 ~CO2
Example
2 Hg0 ~?Hg~
+
~~2
Even though the 1 is
ther e, chemists do not
coef f icients
wr ite it.
YOU CAN ONLY ADD NUMBERS IN FRONT OF A CHEMICAL
FORMULA. YOU CANNOT CHANGE THE NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUAL ATOMS IN THE COMPOUND.
Yes: 1 FeS + / 2HC1 \~ 1 FeCl2 + H2S
No: 1 FeS + \ H2C1 2 /~ 1 FeCl2 + H2S
Countina Atoms
1 Cu(NO3)2 +2K(OH) ~1 Cu(OH)2 + 2KNO3
~' ` ~ ~~
O
oT
~~ T '` ~'~~ e ~T
L e f t Side Right Side
Cu =1 K=2 Cu =1 K=2
N =2 0=2 0=2 N =2
0=6 H =2 H =2 0=6
NO3=2 OH=2 OH=2 NO3 =6
4 . 1 Steams for Balancing
Chemical_~uations
1 ) Write out the skeleton equation. Make sure all the
chemical formulas are w ritten correctly !
2) Begin by balancing the atoms that occur in the
largest number on both sides of the equation. Leave
hy drogen, oxy gen and any other elements until later.
3) Balance any poly atomic ions that occur on both sides
of the equation as a w hole.
i. e. SO4- 2 is kept as 1 SO4- 2 unit not 1 S atom and 4 O
atoms
4 ) Balance any other element that occurs in its
uncombined state ( i. e. Na or C1 2)
5)Balance any hy drogen atoms. Balance oxy gen atoms
that occur in a combined and an uncombined state.
i. e. Combined = CO2 Uncombined = 02
02 can be balanced using a fraction.
6) Check y our answ er. Count the number of each ty pe
of atom on both sides of the equation.
7) A ll coefficients used must be in their low est terms.
*** Balancing reactions is a trial and error process***
***USE A PENCIL***
Balancing Reaction Equations
Balance the f ollow ing equations:
_FeS + _HCI -~ _FeCl2 + _H2S
_AI + _H2SO4 ~ _Al2(SO4)3 + _H2
_CZHs + _OZ ~ _COZ + _H20
_KC103 + energy ~ _KCI + _02
_KMn04 + _HCI -~ _MnCl2 + _KCI + _H20 + _C12
_NaCI + _Mn02 + H2SO4 ~ _Na2SO4 + _MnSO4 + _H20 + _C12
Cu + _HNO3 -~ _Cu(NO3)2 + _H20 + _NO2
_C3H5(OH)3 + _HNO3 ~
-
C3H5~NO3~3 +
_HOH
_Na202 + _H20 ~ _NaOH +
_02
_Na2S203 + _12 ~ _Nal + _Na2S406
Please w r i t e t he w or d equat i on and balanced chemi cal equat i on f or t he
f ollow i ng r eact i ons:
(2) _AI
(3) _N H3
+ _Fe203
+ _p2
C ~
C `
_A1203 + _Fe
_NO + _H20
(4) Na20 +
(NH4)2SO4 -~ _Na2SO4
+
H2O + _NH3
Balancing Reaction Eauations - 2
AS4Sg '+ _~2 ~ AS4Og + S02
AsCl3 + _H2S ~_As2S3 + _HCI
_NaOH + _H3PO4~_Na3PO4 + _H20
_KOH + _S02 ~_K2S03 + _H20
_KC103 + _HCI ~ + _H20 + _C12 _KCI
_Pb(C2H302)2 + _(NH4)ZS - ~ _PbS + _NH4C2H302
_AI + _H2SO4 ~_Al2(SO4)3 + _H20+ _S02
_AI2(CO3)3 + _H20 ~_AI(OH)3 + CO2
_KC103 +energy ~_KCI + _02
Nal + Mn02
+
_Na2SO4
+
H2SO4
_MnSO4
+
H20 + 12
_Na2CO3 + _FeCl3 + _H20 ~
_Fe(OH)3 + _NaCI + _CO2